ASBESTOS BUILDING INSPECTOR EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Characteristics of asbestos mineral - ANSWER: Naturally occurring
- Thermal characteristics (heat stability, thermal, electrical, and acoustic
insulation)
- Resistance to chemical, thermal, and biological deterioration.
-Absorption capability.
- Tensile Strength
What form of asbestos is the fibrous serpentine? ANSWER: Chrysotile (white
asbestos), the most prevalent type found in schools.
Two types of asbestos minerals and their properties - ANSWER 1. Serpentine—
curly, wavy, sheet-like
2. Amphibole is rod-like, straight, and chain-like.
Name the five amphiboles: Amosite.
Tremolite
Actinolite
Crocidolite
Anthopyllite
Asbestos Applications - Roofing
-Thermal and electrical insulation.
-Cement pipes and sheets
,-Flooring
-Gaskets
- Friction materials (brake pads/shoes)
- Coatings and compounds.
- Plastics, textiles, adhesives, thread, fiber jointing, and millboard.
ACBM Categories: ANSWER - Surfacing Materials
-Thermal System Insulation
Miscellaneous Materials
Asbestosis - "white lung" is a condition that produces scarring on the lungs. Not
a cancer. Marker illness. Only asbestos can cause this.
Friable ACM - ACM that can be crumbled, pulverized, or ground into powder
by manual pressure. Consider sprayed-on ceiling insulation. Friable ACM
cannot become non-friable.
Non-friable ACM - Answer ACM that cannot be crushed by hand pressure. (If
sawed, drilled, stripped, or sanded, the material may become friable.) Consider
vinyl-asbestos floor tile.
- Category I: non-friable comprises roofing, flooring, packing materials, and
gaskets.
- Category II: non-friable comprises all other non-friable asbestos products.
AHERA – The Asbestos Hazard Emergency ANSWER Act. 40 CFR Part 763,
Subpart E, promulgated in 1986, requires that all non-profit schools, grades K-
12, be examined for the presence of asbestos-containing building material
(ACBM).
, ACBM - ANSWER: Asbestos-containing building material.
ASHARA: The Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act.
Promulgated in 1990 and effective November 1992, any asbestos examination
undertaken in a public or commercial building must be performed by a qualified
Building Inspector. The accreditation standards were expanded to include
asbestos workers, managers, and inspectors in public and commercial structures.
Increased the required amount of training hours for employees and supervisors.
Building Inspector Responsibilities (AHERA/ASHARA) - ANSWER 1.
Determine whether ACBM is present in a building.
2. Evaluating the physical properties of the ACBM within the building.
A building examination includes: - ANSWER 1. Investigation of records for the
identification of ACBM.
2. A physical and visual check of the building for suspicious materials.
3. Sampling and testing questionable items for asbestos
4. Assessing the ACBM's condition and location, as well as other building
aspects.
Management Planner Role - ANSWER Estimates the degree of current or
potential hazard posed by the ACM based on information gathered during the
building inspection and develops a management plan for it. After ACM is
confirmed, prepare an O&M strategy that will remain in effect until ACM is
removed.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Characteristics of asbestos mineral - ANSWER: Naturally occurring
- Thermal characteristics (heat stability, thermal, electrical, and acoustic
insulation)
- Resistance to chemical, thermal, and biological deterioration.
-Absorption capability.
- Tensile Strength
What form of asbestos is the fibrous serpentine? ANSWER: Chrysotile (white
asbestos), the most prevalent type found in schools.
Two types of asbestos minerals and their properties - ANSWER 1. Serpentine—
curly, wavy, sheet-like
2. Amphibole is rod-like, straight, and chain-like.
Name the five amphiboles: Amosite.
Tremolite
Actinolite
Crocidolite
Anthopyllite
Asbestos Applications - Roofing
-Thermal and electrical insulation.
-Cement pipes and sheets
,-Flooring
-Gaskets
- Friction materials (brake pads/shoes)
- Coatings and compounds.
- Plastics, textiles, adhesives, thread, fiber jointing, and millboard.
ACBM Categories: ANSWER - Surfacing Materials
-Thermal System Insulation
Miscellaneous Materials
Asbestosis - "white lung" is a condition that produces scarring on the lungs. Not
a cancer. Marker illness. Only asbestos can cause this.
Friable ACM - ACM that can be crumbled, pulverized, or ground into powder
by manual pressure. Consider sprayed-on ceiling insulation. Friable ACM
cannot become non-friable.
Non-friable ACM - Answer ACM that cannot be crushed by hand pressure. (If
sawed, drilled, stripped, or sanded, the material may become friable.) Consider
vinyl-asbestos floor tile.
- Category I: non-friable comprises roofing, flooring, packing materials, and
gaskets.
- Category II: non-friable comprises all other non-friable asbestos products.
AHERA – The Asbestos Hazard Emergency ANSWER Act. 40 CFR Part 763,
Subpart E, promulgated in 1986, requires that all non-profit schools, grades K-
12, be examined for the presence of asbestos-containing building material
(ACBM).
, ACBM - ANSWER: Asbestos-containing building material.
ASHARA: The Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act.
Promulgated in 1990 and effective November 1992, any asbestos examination
undertaken in a public or commercial building must be performed by a qualified
Building Inspector. The accreditation standards were expanded to include
asbestos workers, managers, and inspectors in public and commercial structures.
Increased the required amount of training hours for employees and supervisors.
Building Inspector Responsibilities (AHERA/ASHARA) - ANSWER 1.
Determine whether ACBM is present in a building.
2. Evaluating the physical properties of the ACBM within the building.
A building examination includes: - ANSWER 1. Investigation of records for the
identification of ACBM.
2. A physical and visual check of the building for suspicious materials.
3. Sampling and testing questionable items for asbestos
4. Assessing the ACBM's condition and location, as well as other building
aspects.
Management Planner Role - ANSWER Estimates the degree of current or
potential hazard posed by the ACM based on information gathered during the
building inspection and develops a management plan for it. After ACM is
confirmed, prepare an O&M strategy that will remain in effect until ACM is
removed.
